Summary: Preparations for campaign against Karankawas. Committee on memorials to Congress. Land titles.
June 14—1824
Sir,
I recd. your letter this morning informing me of the affair with
three Karankaways on the River near Keykendalls and in which
you request the men from here to meet on the 15 instead of the 20—
It will be impossible to give notice to the men in the upper part of
this Company Sooner than tomorrow and it then would take them
2 days to get to the place of rendavous, I have therefore thought
it most advisable to send on as many as are ready from this place
one of whom will go by the fort to hurry those from that quarter—
on the 16th or night of the 15. I think it would be advisable for
you to send out three sets of spies, one down the Bay Prairie, one
down the west bank of the Colorado, and one over in the direction
towards La Baca with a view of finding where the Indians are
encamped, the spies should be most particularly charged to use every
possible precaution to prevent their being seen by the Indians, and
to return to the place fixed upon for the general rendavous on the
night of the 19th—by which time, all the Men will [be] there, and
as the Spies will probably find the Camps of the Indians you can
then March directly to them with your whole force—also it would
be advisable to keep out a few spies close round the Settlement
codstantly—least there should be some other small parties of Indians
hid in the brush—I make these suggestions as my opinion of the
best course to pursue, but being on the spot you ought to be more
capable of judging what steps are necessary and will consequently
use your own discretion as regards this particular or any other
circumstances in the business—I am obliged to meet the Committee
on the 16th at Col. Groces who were appointd at the Genl. Meeting
on the 5th of this Month to finish that business, and on the 20.
intend starting John Austin and Kennedy to San Antonio to
accompany the Political chief of the Province to this Place, in order to
Sign and complete the deeds for the Settlers so that it will be
impossible for me to go to your Section of the Country at this time
without neglecting other matters of great importance to the Settlers.
Should you lack officers as you probably will you must make
temporary appointments for the trip, of Lieutenants, Sergents and
Corporals, taking care to consult the wishes of the men so as not to
create any dissatisfaction—